Video 4:14
Weapons Inspectors fired on

As world leaders debate intervening in the conflict in Syria, weapons inspectors on their way to the site of an alleged chemical attack have been attacked by unidentified snipers..

Transcript

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: The United Nations says unidentified snipers have fired at weapons inspectors heading to the site of an alleged chemical attack in Syria.

The UN says one of those vehicles in the convoy has been damaged and will have to be replaced.

While the inspectors try to do their job, world leaders are debating whether to intervene in the conflict.

The Israeli Prime Minister has joined Britain and France in calling for international action.

Middle East correspondent Matt Brown reports from Jerusalem.

MATT BROWN, REPORTER: The world's most sensitive mission could be mission impossible. UN weapons inspectors reportedly came under fire after they left their hotel in Damascus to visit the site of the apparent chemical weapons attack.

BAN KI-MOON, UN SECRETARY-GENERAL: And every hour counts. We cannot afford any more delays. We have all seen the horrifying images on our television screens and through social media.

MATT BROWN: Rebels claim this is a fragment of one of the shells involved. It's been days since the attack and proving where the chemicals came from won't be easy. But France has dismissed the Syrian Government's denials and says there will be a proportionate response.

LAURENT FABIUS, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER (voiceover translation): It has been established that a chemical massacre happened. Assad is responsible. We need a reaction.

MATT BROWN: With major European allies ready to back some form of action, even without a UN Security Council resolution, all eyes are on Washington, where Barack Obama is reportedly considering a military response.

WESLEY CLARK, FORMER NATO COMMANDER: You have to have the diplomatic throw-weight behind to you make sure that the first strike, that your adversary knows it's inevitable that escalation will follow and there'll be no relenting on the pressure.

MATT BROWN: Israel is one Syrian neighbour which no doubt has a lot of suggestions for possible targets. It won't admit it, but it's reportedly attacked Syria four times this year, targeting advanced weapons due to be shipped to the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is Israel's sworn enemy.

The Air Force is even changing its training to account for the increased instability in the region.

MAJOR "U", NORTHERN KNIGHTS SQUADRON: And our plans are constantly ready and our alert times are very well fitted to the operational scenario. It's very short. It's shorter than you think.

MATT BROWN: But any attack on Syria risks an escalation.

On the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967, it's been preparing for the worst. A small number of Syrian soldiers who reportedly targeted Israeli vehicles have already been killed.

ANAN ABBAS, DEPUTY COMMANDER, GOLAN REGIONAL BRIGADE (voiceover translation): There has been drastic change. First of all, we've deployed special infantry forces that are able to respond to every incident. Second, we've boosted our tank activity, as we saw here, to carry out retaliatory fire toward any threat that confronts us.

Tensions really soared here in early June when rebels stormed the Syrian military post just a few hundred metres down the road.

ANAN ABBAS (voiceover translation): The first thing, the rebels, they took down the flag of the Syrian regime and raised the rebel flag and that flag remained there for a few hours. And then we saw that again the flag of the Syrian regime was returned to its place.

MATT BROWN: Mortar fire has burned the grass here. Scores of wounded have been brought across the fence into Israel for treatment. And it's all unfolding just 160 kilometres from Jerusalem. That's just one of the reasons Israel says it does not want an all-out war with Syria. While it says now is the time to deal with Bashir al-Assad's chemical weapons, it wants international action.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Now the whole world is watching. Iran is watching. And it wants to see what would be the reaction on the use of chemical weapons.

MATT BROWN: Another powerful voice demanding an international response.